It was 2:15 p.m. on a weekday afternoon and I was sitting on the Kennedy Expressway in traffic crawling at less than 10 miles an hour.
I was on my way to Palatine to visit Palatine Station, 92 residences described by the builder as a “a transit-centered” development.
Inching along as I was in non-rush hour traffic, I had plenty of time to think about that “transit-centered” idea.
While I had to grudgingly admit that the idea of living next to railroad tracks doesn’t appeal to me, I can understand how it might to those who have to commute. That must explain why there seems to be more and more new housing clustered near railroad stations in suburban downtowns.
Palatine Station is just such a development and it is, quite literally, next to the tracks. The Toll Bros. development, which began sales in spring 2003 and is about 75 percent sold, is one of several new or planned housing developments within easy walking distance of the commuter station in downtown Palatine.
Furthermore, the housing appears to be a natural extension of an established and healthy downtown, not an attempt to revive a dying retail district.
Nearby is a small park with a tasteful sign telling the time of the weekly farmers’ market as well as a Starbucks, several eateries, retail outlets and banks.
The Pennsylvania-based builder turned to Chicago architect George Pappageorge of Pappageorge Haymes Ltd. to design the red brick residences with limestone accents.
Plans range from a 1,000-square-foot, one-bedroom unit on one level to a 2,250-square-foot, three-bedroom on three levels. The units are in three-story row house-style buildings.
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The single-story Hayden plan is at ground level in the same building with the two-story Atwood above.
The Atwood is entered after climbing the outside staircase to the second level, sort of a high stoop, to the front door.
All the units have about a 300-square-foot basement and attached garage.
Let’s get the important question of soundproofing out of the way first.
To the builder’s credit, the soundproofing seems good. I was in the living room of the furnished model when a Union Pacific freight passed in what I would assume was a scheduled run.
Although I could hear the train, it was only a low, unobtrusive drone. How frequently this occurs I don’t know. But because sound sensitivity is a personal matter, shoppers will do well to research this thoroughly before buying.
Those who buy in a development with a Metra platform across the parking lot from their front door have no room to complain about noise after they move in.
Under any circumstances — and to some this might be a virtue — buyers should be prepared for the low hum of passing trains as an intermittent background sound.
Shoppers on a budget also will want to pay close attention to what is standard and what is an option or upgrade in the tastefully-decorated model. The builder gets kudos for posting the information, but I was not impressed that so many decorating touches are unavailable from the builder.
The three-level model is the two-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath Gramercy, priced from about $360,000.
An end unit, it is shown with a two-story bay on the upper two stories at the front of the building which adds precious inches to a compact living space.
Visitors enter the model at the ground level and step into the family room/home office that according to the floor plan is about 17 by 13 1/2 feet.
Straight back from the front door are doors to the two-car garage, the basement and a powder room, an upgrade. On the second level, a small powder room (standard) is at the top of the stairs and the dining and living room to the left.
One of the nicest features of the model is a separate kitchen, 17 by 13 1/2 feet, behind the dining room.
The builder should be applauded for resisting the temptation to do yet another open-concept, all-in-one room kitchen/living/dining area.
This kitchen has plenty of space for a table and chairs — it is shown with a soft corner banquette, large table and chairs — for daily family meals in addition to good counter space for food preparation.
The cook can leave behind all the kitchen mess when joining guests in the dining room for more formal occasions.
The room is equipped with 42-inch wall cabinets, a standard feature and necessary, but a broom closet is sorely lacking.
The kitchen opens to a back deck big enough for a grill or a side table and a couple of small chairs. It hangs over the garage door overlooking the roadway to the garages of neighboring units, but it also looks onto a green wall of well-established trees and bushes.
The dining room sits six comfortably but has little additional room for large antique sideboards. The bay window at the front of the living room adds light and space to the room and provides an unfettered view of the passing trains.
The stairs to the third living level are along one wall. At the top of the stairs on the third level is the closet for a full-size washer and dryer. To the right is a guest bedroom or study with a private bath and walk-in closet. To the left and at the front of the house is the master bedroom with a walk-in closet.
The bay window is once again a feature adding light and space. A queen bed fits nicely here but a king might be a tight squeeze. The adjacent master bathroom, with a shower and tub, two sinks and a separate small room for the toilet, is comfortable for two.
Although it is optional, a third-level closet in the model is converted into a staircase that leads to a roof deck. All but one buyer of multi-story units thus far has opted for this $16,900 upgrade that includes decking, electrical outlets and railing. Benches are $2,300 more.
The roof deck, common in Chicago, is unusual in the suburbs, said Julie Harness, Palatine Station sales manager. “It brings a lot of people in here.”
Considering that it took me about 90 minutes to travel by car from the Loop to the development, I can guess why it is so popular. Rail commuters can relish the time they have to enjoy it because they are already home, not stuck in traffic on an expressway.
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Palatine Station
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Address: 94 N. Smith St., Palatine
Developer: Toll Brothers Inc.
Phone: 847-934-4800
Web: www.tollbrothers.com
Description: 92 one, two and three-level residences in downtown Palatine with one to three bedrooms, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 baths in 1,000 to 2,250 square feet and base priced from $260,000 to $461,000. Monthly assessments $115 to $269. Prices as of July 2.
Amenities: Nine and 10-foot ceilings, fireplaces, granite kitchen countertops,42-inch wall cabinets in kitchens. Basements, attached garages, optional roof decks.
Neighborhood: Next to railroad station and near restaurants and stores, park; short drive to Twin Lakes recreation area, Woodfield shopping center.